New Zealand International Biology Olympiad Programme 2008 09.

National Entrance Examination

19
Question 41
Of the 27 known human blood group systems, the ABO and Rhesus (Rh) systems are clinically the most
important. Each person is one of the four ABO groups, O, A, B, and AB, and is either Rh +ve or Rhve.
The frequencies in the New Zealand population of are (to nearest whole number) as follows:
O+ = 38%
O = 9%
A+ = 32%
A = 6%
B+ = 9%
B = 2%
The frequencies of AB+ and AB have been omitted from the list. The frequency of AB+ is approximately
A. 2%
B . 3%
C . 4%
D . 6%


Question 42
The osmotic concentration of a solution is proportional to the number of dissolved particles (molecules or
ions) per unit volume of solution. A molar (1M) solution contains the molecular mass of solute in each dm
3

(litre) of solution. The molecular mass of glucose is 180, so a dm
3
of molar glucose solution contains 180 g
of dissolved glucose. Given that the molecular mass of sucrose is 342, which of the following pairs of
solutions would have the most nearly equal osmotic concentration (percentages refer to percentage by
mass)?

A. 10% glucose and 10% sucrose
B. 0.4 M glucose and 0.2 M sucrose
C . 10% sucrose and 5% glucose
D. 5% sucrose and 10% glucose


Question 43
In mammals, a haemoglobin molecule consists of four subunits, each of which can bind to an oxygen
molecule.

H
b

s
a
t
u
r
a
t
i
o
n

(
%
)
Pa O
2
(kPa)
8
90



The sigmoid shape of the oxygen dissociation
curve at left indicates that when a fully saturated
haemoglobin molecule loses oxygen from one
subunit:

A. it becomes easier to lose the second and
third oxygen molecules.
B. it becomes difficult to lose the second
and third oxygen molecules
C. the haemoglobin binds CO
2
.
D. the haemoglobin binds HCO
3
-
.

New Zealand International Biology Olympiad Programme 2008 09. National Entrance Examination

20

The following information relates to Questions 44 46
The kidneys play an important part in regulating the composition of the blood. Each human kidney consists
of about a million nephrons, one of which is shown diagrammatically below. Each nephron is a blind-ending
renal tubule beginning as a cup-shaped Bowmans capsule. Into Bowmans capsule dips a cluster of
capillaries called a glomerulus. Liquid is forced under blood pressure from the glomerulus into the capsule,
and as it passes along the renal tubule some substances are reabsorbed into the network of blood vessels
and others are secreted from the blood into the tubule.

loop of
Henle
proximal
convoluted
tubule
distal
convoluted
tubule
collecting
duct
urine
flow = 500
protein = p
glucose = g
urea = u
Na
+
= s
NH
4
+
= a
blood plasma
1st sample
flow = 100
protein = nil
glucose = g
urea = u
Na
+
= s
NH
4
+
= a
2nd sample
flow = 20
protein = nil
glucose = nil
urea = 3u
Na
+
= s
NH
4
+
= a
3rd sample
flow = 1
protein = nil
glucose = nil
urea = 60u
Na
+
= 2s
NH
4
+
= 150a
glomerulus
Bowman's
capsule capillary
network
Na
+
= sodium ions
NH
4
+
= ammonium ions


The working of the kidney has been studied by taking samples of fluid from various points using a
micropipette, and analysing the rate of flow (volume per minute) and composition. Flow rates and
concentrations are expressed as relative values and are indicated in the boxes. Thus in the 3rd sample the
urea concentration is 60 times as high as in the plasma, and 20 times as high as in the 2nd sample.

Question 44
These data show that between the points where the first and second samples are taken,

A. none of the water and 4/5 of the Na+ are reabsorbed from the tubular fluid into the blood.
B. none of the water and none of the Na+ are reabsorbed from the tubular fluid into the blood
C. 4/5 of the water and none of the Na+ are reabsorbed from the tubular fluid into the blood.
D. 4/5 of the water and 4/5 of the Na+ are reabsorbed from the tubular fluid into the blood.

Question 45
These data suggest that between the points where the second and third samples are taken,

A. there is no movement of urea between tubule and blood.
B. some urea moves passively from tubule to blood.
C. some urea moves passively from blood to tubule.
D. some urea moves by active transport from blood into the tubule.
New Zealand International Biology Olympiad Programme 2008 09. National Entrance Examination

21
Question 46
The data show that between the points where samples 1 and 3 are taken, the total quantity of NH
4
+
ions

A. does not change.
B. increases 150 times.
C. increases 7.5 times.
D. increases 15 times.


The following information applies to Question 47 and 48
In an investigation to compare water loss with water uptake by a shoot, Winston set up the apparatus
shown. He first cut the shoot from the plant at 7.00 am and immediately made a second cut under water. He
recorded the volume of water in each measuring cylinder, and also the total mass of each apparatus. He
then placed both pieces of apparatus in a windowsill and left them for 4 days, with air freely circulating. 1
cm
3
of water has a mass of 1 g.

leafy
shoot
water
measuring
cylinder




The table below shows the results after four
days, during which the shoot grew in length by
0.2 cm.

Apparatus A
(with shoot)
Apparatus B
(control)
Volume
(cm
3
)
Mass
(g)
Volume
(cm
3
)
Mass
(g)
First 76.2 262.0 94.0 248.3
After 4 days 65.9 251.8 93.8 248.1
Change 10.3 10.2 0.2 0.2

Question 47
The volume of water used (i.e. absorbed and retained) by the plant was:

A. 10.3 cm
3

B. 10.2 cm
3

C. 0.2 cm
3

D. 0.1 cm
3




Question 48
The water that had been retained by the plant was mainly used for:

A. respiration.
B. photosynthesis.
C. cell enlargement.
D. osmosis.
New Zealand International Biology Olympiad Programme 2008 09. National Entrance Examination

22
The following information applies to Questions 49 and 50
Helen and Michael set up identical bubble potometers as shown, with the intention of comparing the
transpiration rates of sun-adapted and shade-adapted karaka shoots. The capillary tube is briefly raised
above the water level in the beaker for long enough for an air bubble to enter the tube, and is then lowered
back into the water. The rate at which the bubble moves is a measure of the rate at which the plant absorbs
water, and is assumed to be equal to the rate of loss.
leafy
shoot
water
capillary tube
marker
rubber tube
connection



Helen used sun-adapted and Michael used
shade-adapted shoots, and both sets of
apparatus were set up on the same windowsill.
The distance moved by the bubble in a known
period of time was recorded, and is shown in the
table.

Distance
moved
by bubble
(mm)
Time
(min)
Total
leaf
area
(cm
2
)
Cross
section
area of
tube
Sun-adapted
shoot
30 2 240 2 mm
2

Shade-
adapted
shoot
45 6 360 2 mm
2




Question 49
If Helen wanted to obtain a comparative value (i.e. how many more times faster one shoot transpired than
the other), which of he following data would she not need?

A. the cross section area of the tube
B. the distance moved by the bubble
C. the time taken
D. the total leaf area


Question 50
Which shoot transpired the faster, and by how many times?

A. The shade-adapted shoot transpired 1.5 times faster than the sun shoot.
B. The shade-adapted shoot transpired 3 times faster than the sun shoot.
C. The sun-adapted shoot transpired 3 times faster than the shade shoot.
D. The sun-adapted shoot transpired 1.5 times faster than the shade shoot.

New Zealand International Biology Olympiad Programme 2008 09. National Entrance Examination

23
Question 51
The tricuspid valve is in the right side of the heart and separates the right ventricle, which pumps blood to
the lungs, from the right atrium, which receives blood from the rest of the body. The reason why the
tricuspid valve closes is:

A. to stop the blood flowing backwards.
B. there is a difference in pressure on either side of it.
C. it stops oxygenated blood mixing with deoxygenated blood.
D. it gives the blood time to enter the atrium.


Question 52
The following sequence of reactions occurs in respiration:

enzyme 1 enzyme 2 enzyme 3
oxoglutarate __________
>
succinate __________
>
fumarate __________
>
malate

The addition of malonic acid results in no change in the concentration of oxoglutarate, an accumulation of
succinate, and a near absence of fumarate and malate. Further addition of fumarate results in the formation
of malate. What does this information indicate about malonate?

A. It is an inhibitor of enzyme 1.
B. It catalyses the formation of succinic acid.
C. It is an inhibitor of enzyme 2.
D. It inhibits enzyme 3.


Question 53
Which of the following correctly shows the relationships between the groups of organisms shown?

B
Mammals
Fish
Animals
Bats
Birds
Whales
A
Animals
Birds
Bats
Fish Mammals
W
h
a
l
e
s
C
Animals
Birds
Bats
Fish
Mammals
Whales
D
Animals
Birds
Bats
Mammals
Whales
Fish

New Zealand International Biology Olympiad Programme 2008 09. National Entrance Examination

24
The following information relates to Questions 54 to 57
Paper chromatography is a process that separates a mixture of compounds by allowing them to be soaked
up by a piece of absorbent paper.

A drop of mixture is placed in one corner of
a square of absorbent paper.
One edge of the paper is immersed in a
solvent. (a)
The solvent migrates up the sheet by
capillary attraction.
As it does so, the substances in the drop
are carried along at different rates. (b)
Each compound migrates at a rate that
reflects the size of its molecule and its
solubility in the solvent.
After a second run at right angles to the first
(often using a different solvent), the various
substances will be spread out at distinct
spots across the sheet, forming a
chromatogram. (c)
The identity of each spot can be determined
by comparing its position with the position
occupied by known substances under the
same conditions.
In many cases, a fragment of the paper can
be cut away from the sheet and chemical
analysis run on the tiny amount of
substance in it.

If the mixture contains molecules that have been labelled with a radioactive tracer, these can be located by
placing the chromatogram next to a sheet of X-ray film. The location of dark spots on the developed film
(because of radiation emitted by the tracer) can be correlated with the position of the substances on the
chromatogram.

Examine the autoradiograms below (courtesy of Dr. James A. Bassham) that were essential in working out
the dark reactions of photosynthesis. The dark spots show the radioactive compounds produced after 10
secs (left) and 2 minutes (right) of photosynthesis by the green alga Scenedesmus. The alga was supplied
with carbon dioxide labelled with
14
C, a radioactive isotope of carbon. The small rectangle and circle (lower
right-hand corners) mark the spots where the cell extract was applied.





New Zealand International Biology Olympiad Programme 2008 09. National Entrance Examination

25


Question 54
At 10 seconds, where is most of the radioactivity found?

A. in ribulose bisphoshate (Ribose bisP).
B. in 3-phosphoglycerate ("P-Glyceric").
C. in phosphorylated glucose (Glucose-P).
D. in phosphorylated pyruvic acid (P-Pyruvic).


Question 55
Which of the following most correctly describes the substances that have been synthesised by 2 minutes?

A. phosphorylated 6-carbon sugars (such as Glucose-1,2-P and Fructose-P).
B. glucose and fructose.
C. phosphorylated 6-carbon sugars and a number of amino acids (such as alanine and serine).
D. a number of amino acids (such as alanine and serine).


Question 56
The distance that a compound moves up the paper from the starting point divided by the distance that the
solvent moves up from the starting point is called the R
f
value of the compound. The R
f
value applies to a
particular compound being carried by a particular solvent on a particular type of paper. Distances are
measured between the centres of the spots.

R
f
= distance that the compound moves up the paper from the starting point
distance that the solvent moves up the paper from the starting point

Referring back to the autoradiograms above: which substance has the largest R
f
value in the second solvent
used? (assume the same orientation as in the model chromatogram diagrams shown before the real
ones).

A. alanine
B. glycolic acid (Glycolic)
C. glycine
D. malic acid (Malic)
New Zealand International Biology Olympiad Programme 2008 09. National Entrance Examination

26
Question 57

Short-lived
intermediate
CALVIN
CYCLE
Input
3 (entering one
at a time) CO
2
P P
P
P P 6
6 NADPH
6 NADP
+
6 P
i
3 ADP
ATP 3
P P 3
6 ADP
ATP 6
5 P
G3P
6 P
1
G3P
P
Output
Glucose and
other organic
compounds
Phase 2:
Reduction
Phase 1: Carbon fixation
6
Phase 3: Regeneration
of the CO2 acceptor
(RuBP)
3
Rubisco
3-phosphoglycerate
Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P)
Ribulose bisphosphate
(RuBP)
1,3-Bisphosphoglycerate
CALVIN
CYCLE
LIGHT
REACTIONS
CH
2
O
(sugar)
Light
NADPH
ADP
NADP
+
ATP
H
2
O
O
2
CO
2


The Calvin cycle is the second part of
photosynthesis and occurs in the stroma of the
chloroplast. In the Calvin cycle CO
2
is
incorporated into organic molecules which are
converted to sugar. For the net synthesis of one
molecule of the 3 - carbon sugar
glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P) the cycle
must take place 3 times, fixing 3 molecules of
CO
2
. The G3P produced in the Calvin cycle is
later converted to glucose and other organic
compounds.

To produce a molecule of glucose (C
6
H
12
O
6
)
from carbon dioxide and water would require the
expenditure of how many molecules of ATP and
NADPH?

A. 6 molecules of ATP and 6 molecules of
NADPH
B. 9 molecules of ATP and 6 molecules of
NADPH
C. 18 molecules of ATP and 12 molecules of
NADPH
D. 36 molecules of ATP and 24 molecules of
NADPH
Question 58
Proteins are all polymers constructed from a set of 20 amino acids. The general structure of amino acids is
shown below:




Amino acids consist of a central carbon atom joined to an amino
group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom and a variable group
symbolised by R. The R group, or side chain, differs with each amino
acid and amino acids are grouped according to the properties of their
side chains.

Amino acids may be either:
non -polar the electrons in the bonds of the side chain are
shared equally.
polar the electrons in the bonds of the side chain are NOT
shared equally.
acidic the side chain is characterised by a negative charge.
basic - the side chain is characterised by a positive charge.
Consider the diagram of the structure of the amino acid, valine at right below. Is valine:

A. non -polar.
B. polar.
C. acidic.
D. basic.

New Zealand International Biology Olympiad Programme 2008 09. National Entrance Examination

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The following information relates to Questions 59 and 60
Domestic sewage is rich in bacteria and decomposable organic matter, and when discharged into a
river, it results in drastic physical and chemical changes in the water and in the organisms living in the
river. The presence of large numbers of bacteria increases demand for oxygen. The sewage discharge
is usually very turbid and reduces algal growth but once turbidity decreases the enrichment of the waters
with nitrogen from the sewage may result in an explosive increase in the density of photosynthetic
organisms. As these organisms die, and organic material accumulates in the sediments, detritivores
increase and consume oxygen in the waters, negatively affecting the populations of oxygen sensitive
species such as fish. The graphs below show the abiotic and biotic changes in a river with a large
sewage outfall.

The abiotic changes shown are suspended organic matter, ammonia, nitrate, and dissolved oxygen. The
biotic changes shown are the numbers of fish, bacteria, ciliates (single-celled organisms that feed on
bacteria), and algae (plant-like organisms).

A
B
D
C
distance downstream
outfall
r
e
l
a
t
i
v
e

q
u
a
n
t
i
t
i
e
s
Abiotic changes
distance downstream
outfall
r
e
l
a
t
i
v
e

n
u
m
b
e
r
s
C
A
B
D
Biotic changes


Question 59
In the left hand graph, give the letter of the curve that is most likely to represent dissolved oxygen.


Question 60
In the right hand graph, give the letter of the curve that is most likely to represent algae.




Question 61
Considering the graph at right, a peak of
estrogen production occurs during:

A. the flow phase of the menstrual cycle.
B. the beginning of the follicular phase of
the ovarian cycle.
C. the period just before ovulation.
D. the beginning of the luteal phase of the
ovarian cycle.
New Zealand International Biology Olympiad Programme 2008 09. National Entrance Examination

35